Interview with Darion McCloud
We spoke to a local hero from our home of Columbia, South Carolina for the final installment of our Black History Month series. Darion McCloud is an actor who has been performing with the South Carolina Shakespeare Company for over ten years, playing such roles as Othello, Macduff and Don Pedro. In addition to his work as a Shakespearean artist, he is known for acting and directing in many other theatres in the Columbia area, working as an educator and storyteller for children in local schools, and founding the NiA theatre company. In the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, McCloud started the online storytelling project the Magic Purple Circle, where some of our Upstart Crows had the opportunity to perform. Our student Daviyon Alston spoke to McCloud about his work and career. Below is an excerpt of their conversation.
Daviyon: What was your drive or motivation to pursue performing Shakespeare?
Darion: There are a lot of reasons I found Shakespeare attractive. Shakespeare has a certain prestige factor that comes with it, you know what I mean? So people think, if you can do Shakespeare, you can do anything, which - I don’t know if it’s true or not, but Shakespeare is definitely its own thing. So there was a certain prestige thing, but also I was just in love with the language. And I know everybody says that, but everybody says that because it’s true. The language is its own particular thing. And it is a bit of a challenge, it can be difficult to listen to, so I think that makes people think it’s difficult to perform, which makes people think you must be really skilled if you can do it, which gives you prestige and blah blah… So all those things together. But I thought it was also fun. I was that dude that in school, when it was time to read Shakespeare in English class, I was maybe the only one who was amped about it. I was like “Yeah, let’s do this!” (Laughs) So I’ve liked those plays for a long time.
Daviyon: What connection or inspiration do you have to some of the actors and directors we’ve profiled so far this Black History Month?
Darion: Ira Aldridge is someone I learned about fairly recently - well, I say recently, last 20 or so years. I’d never heard of him before I started doing Shakespeare, and just historically, his import, you know, as a Black man doing Shakespeare, of course I found a kinship there. And the roles he did, and the importance he holds historically as a performer in the United States of America. (Paul) Robeson was someone I’ve known for most of my life, one of my heroes from probably elementary school. Robeson was the cat that excelled at everything. He was a scholar, he was a four-letter sport person, he played football, he ran track. And then he was a great performer, singer and actor. So Paul Robeson has just been kind of one of my heroes my whole life, so if it was good enough for Robeson it was good enough for me. You know? (Laughs)
Daviyon: What advice would you have for young people of color who are getting into Shakespeare, like myself?
Darion: Just know that you’re going to have to find your opportunities. Don’t wait for them to come to you; go create them. If there’s a company, you want to work with them - put yourself there. Go introduce yourself, audition, whatever. Audition, audition, audition - every actor, old, young, whatever. Audition, audition, audition. Make yourself available. And then sometimes you may have to create your own opportunity. If someone’s not doing what you want to do, you may have to find a way to create that situation, or something akin to it. Read. Go see other people doing the work. Read a lot. The words are easier when you read the words. They just are. The words are easier when you know the stories, know what’s happening. I like to see a play. So there’s a story there. It’s not just about, “Oh, these words sound cool, I’m gonna stand here in front of these people and look interesting and sound interesting.” No, you’re trying to connect with them. So, understand what you’re doing, so you can connect.
Daviyon: Definitely do your research, is what you’re saying.
Darion: Do your research, do your research, do your research. But like I said, also try to create as many opportunities - that doesn’t mean things will always happen for you. But put yourself out there. Give yourself a chance. Don’t sit home wanting to do - put yourself in those situations, give yourself a chance.
Daviyon: Wow, I actually - I love that answer, because it definitely speaks towards me, especially during times like this, that’s a pivotal point and an amazing answer. So thank you very much for that.
Learn more about Darion McCloud: https://www.darionmccloud.com/
See the Crows perform in the Magic Purple Circle: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCQRw1EqY2wx8PZ8OGR9rLQ